Mr. Beedon's Impact by Tana

Mr. Beedon's Impact by Tana - January 2025 Scholarship Essay

Throughout my years of education, I have been fortunate enough to have mentors who have helped guide me. Only one true person has stood out the most. MrBeedon, he has helped shape my academic and personal growth. His guidance and mentorship will always have an impact on my life.Mr. Beedon's influence goes beyond just the classroom, leaving an impression on how I approach learning and life in general.
Mr.Beedon was my business teacher for two years straight. When you go to apply for business class, in a way, you kind of expect it to be serious. Mr. Beedon made sure to still make it fun. He is the kind of teacher who got involved and went out of his way to help his students. He filled our classroom with respect, friendship, education, laughter, creativeness, and kindness. Some days there would be book work and many days there were projects. Mr. Beedom always said “if you guys focus and do the work, tomorrow we can get out of the book and start a project.”He was never too strict on our due dates as long as we were working in class. He went out of his way to help us make resumes, learn about interviews and even brought in special guests. Mr. Beedon was the first teacher to bring my attention to college. This is where I discovered Macomb Community College's architectural design program. Ever since that day, my plan has been to go to Macomb Community College for two years and to transfer to Ferris State University for my Bachelor's degree.
Mr.Beedon taught me there can be teachers who are more than just an educator.He never talked to us like we were just some students.He engaged with us and made us feel seen.He listened to the drama and the rumors.He created an environment where we didn't feel judged, and we knew our voices mattered.Whether it was letting us, share personal stories or guiding us through difficult situations, he always made us feel like we were not just some students. He would open his snack shack up to the class. He'd give us days to just sit around and do anything we wanted. Mr. Beedon went out of his way to be more than just a teacher, and because of that his impact lasted far beyond the subject he taught. I think this is why it made it so hard for when he retired, he wasn't just a teacher, he was a mentor and friend.
I still contact him once and awhile and we're both always glad to hear from each other. His advice and support continue guiding me, and I know I can always reach out to him. Without Mr. Beedon being so practical and present it definitely would've been harder for me to get a job, go to an interview, pick a college, or even choose my major. I am very thankful to have experienced such a good teacher, with a caring heart, and an impact I'll never forget.